Blog

Preparing for a baby is one of the most exciting and stressful experiences for new parents. There’s so much to do before baby comes, and only nine months to do it! That seems like a lot of time, but it passes by more quickly than you realize. One decision that...

September 09, 2015

Have you ever received an email indicating that your password for a routinely used website had been successfully changed?  This type of email is usually reassuring as an added measure of security. But what if you did not change the password? Suddenly this kind of email takes on a new...

September 01, 2015

AFCPE® Membership Spotlight: Kristy ArchuletaThe theme of the 2015 AFCPE Symposium is Building the Bridge from Research to Practice. Kristy Archuleta is a great example of how each member of AFCPE plays an important role in forming that bridge. As a longtime member of AFCPE, co-author of the 2014 AFCPE Research Journal Article...

August 27, 2015

“Your hobby costs how much?”  This is a question I have received many times through my life. It’s true, to some, my hobby seems expensive, maybe even exorbitant. But the truth is, the value of a hobby is more than meets the eye. I am a proud horse owner, and...

August 03, 2015

Marissa Cruz wrote an important article, entitled, “Why Service Members Should Receive Financial Literacy Training.”The article caught our attention for its urgent message and strong focus on the financial issues facing our country’s servicemembers and veterans. Cruz raises very valid points around the importance of providing financial literacy training to...

July 30, 2015

For Gabriella Barthlow, 2015 is a year of firsts. Although she has worked as an AFC® professional for more than 7 years, this year she started a new role as a Financial Coach for the CFPB Financial Coaching project, became a member of AFCPE® and is planning her first trip to the...

July 29, 2015

It's been nearly two years since the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that same-sex couples legally married in states that recognize their marriages, should be treated as married for federal tax purposes. Subsequently, the ruling applies regardless of whether the couple lives in...

July 13, 2015

Recently in a personal finance class, some of the students asked me how much they should be spending in the different budget categories, such as housing, groceries, and so on. I’ve always seen these categories as somewhat flexible, with the amount you spend on one thing versus another being entirely...

July 08, 2015

As financial counselors, coaches and educators, it is important to recognize and understand various systems of saving and investing that culturally diverse populations and the underbanked might use.  The use of money pools might not be the first choice that a financial professional might recommend to a client, but if...

July 02, 2015

Be prepared. When most people hear these two words, they think of the Boy Scouts of America. I want to share with you why all military spouses need to be prepared as well. I was a military spouse for three months shy of 20 years when my 1SG (First Sergeant)...

June 15, 2015

Part 3: MONEY, DEBT, AND THE LAW 101 Read Part 1: A Snapshot View of Consumer Debt Read Part 2: Can They Take My Money? Anyone can be sued by a debt collector. Debt collectors don’t only sue deadbeats. They are paid to follow the money. Sometimes they get it right, and...

June 11, 2015

Part 2: MONEY, DEBT, AND THE LAW 101Read Part 1: A Snapshot View of Consumer DebtLast week we looked at some of the factors that are driving the growth in the debt collection industry and the aggressive nature of that industry, particularly in respect to third-party debt-buyers and consumer debt. Consumer...

June 04, 2015